Shakedown Sunday arrived as I anticipated June fishing. Today begins the month when sport fishing all over New England reaches its peak. Striped bass arrive for our in-shore saltwater fishery, insect hatches bring trout to the surface, and warmwater panfish and bass become more active with rising water temperatures.

Catching the first smallmouth bass of the season was easy, thanks to Steve and Joe Lucarelli. As described in last week's column, fishing with guides who provide all the equipment is easy. All I had to do was step on the boat and follow instructions.

Shakedown Sunday reminded me that fishing, especially fly fishing, is driven by gear heads. Somebody has invented a nifty gadget for every imaginable fishing situation.

I ducked into the basement and laundry room and emerged with the rod bag, chest pack and wading gear. For a shakedown trip, I planned to wade what I call Target Pond. I didn't have to worry about a boat.

Some married anglers recognize they have reached "critical mass" when the number of fly rods (or fishing boats) is large enough that adding one more to the collection won't be noticed by one's spouse.

Most of the rods and reels in my own collection are a result of careful bidding at Trout Unlimited conservation banquets and one incredibly lucky raffle ticket.

"What the heck happened to the floating section for the 6-weight multi-tip set?" I wondered as I sorted through the spool holder on the rod bag.

An important shakedown ritual is to strip all of the floating lines from their spools, pull them through a cloth moistened with cleaner/lubricant, stretch to remove the kinks, and then wind them tightly back onto the spool.

Another shakedown ritual is to sort through leftover leaders and tie a knot called a perfection loop in the butt end of any that are sold unfinished. I use a loop-to-loop connection to connect the leader to what is known as a "hard butt" of monofilament attached to the end of the fly line. I pay to have that connection made at a fly shop.

I think the perfection loop makes the leader lie on the water more naturally than the easier surgeon's loop. Silvio Calabi's Encyclopedia of Fly Fishing accurately describes the knot as "slightly tricky," but I can tie it if I keep the diagram in front of me.

I always have to fight the temptation to head straight to the water to make the first cast of the season. It's a much better idea to go to the field behind the house and practice on the grass.

Trying to be helpful, neighbors sometimes point out my limited opportunities for catching anything there. Probably wouldn't appreciate ice fishing on a hockey rink, either.

The voices of dozens of instructors echoed through my brain as I struggled to find my rhythm and timing. As I sometimes tell a skiing buddy who is a professional instructor, understanding the concept is not the same as mastering the skill.

Finally satisfied that I could hit the wet side of a pond, I loaded up the truck and hit the road.

Longtime readers will recognize Target Pond as the mythical name of a tiny fly-fishing-only pond located on park land in the Concord/Manchester area. When measured in the rate of fish stocked per acre, it has a reputation as the most heavily stocked pond in the state. I'm a conscientious objector when it comes to looking at stocking records, so I haven't verified it.

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